AllFreeNovel
Share Us
April's stomach clenched with anxiety. She had never been one for ultimatums. It always puts unneeded pressure on relationships.
Alice, ever the optimist, winked at her. "Hey, don't worry," she said. "All men are ridiculous. Isn't that why we get together? God invented wine, so we can do just this. Sit here and complain about men."
The four women raised their glasses and clinked them together. But as April sipped, she wondered if any of the suggestions she'd gotten were viable options for her. Probably not. Fist fights and ultimatums. Was that the best she could do for her relationship?
"Okay, can we talk for a minute about how frustrating it is when they leave the toilet seat up?" Kellie began.
The three other women stared at each other. "Yeah, um... None of us are in the position to have a man in our bathroom," April replied as the others burst into laughter.
"The only reason a man would ever be in my pristine bathroom is to fix the faucet," Alice said, raising her glass again.
"Ha, ha, guys. Yes. I sometimes let my boyfriend use my bathroom," Kellie retorted.
Beth clasped her chest as she keeled over in laughter. "Do you have to get your toilet detailed after? Like a car?"
The women couldn't stop laughing. It brought a light to April's dark week thus far. Everything could be going wrong and at least she would have ladies night.
As the night went on and the wine continued to flow, April couldn't help but feel a sense of relief washing over her. It was nice to have a group of girlfriends to vent to and confide in. She had been struggling to keep her emotions in check ever since Lily had entered the picture.
Though her friends didn't provide much clarity on her relationship, they provided April colored glasses. And the reminder that no matter what happened between Nigel and April, she had friends in town.
As the night went on, the laughter subsided, and April headed back to her house, waving goodbye to her friends. Tomorrow was finally time to face reality and all the problems that brought with it.
CHAPTER TWELVE
April awoke early the next morning, determined to start making progress on her project. Though it was chilly outside, she still felt a sense of clarity as she stepped out of her house.
With a wheelbarrow, shovel, and rake in hand, April began weeding the tall grass that had grown around the barn.
She moved diligently, taking her time to clear the area. As she worked, April began to feel a sense of satisfaction coursing through her veins. Her body felt alive with energy, and for a few moments, she was able to forget all her previous worries.
She felt a sense of peace and fulfillment as she toiled away, her hands dirty with soil and sweat dripping from her brow.
As she took a break, leaning against the fence and taking in her work, she was quickly taken aback by looking at the bigger picture. Her portion of the weeded grass was much smaller than she imagined when she was working on it.
At this rate, it would take her much longer than she anticipated. It would take over a year for someone to clean up this ranch area to working condition. Her project was far from complete, and she had so much work ahead of her.
April was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice the figure standing at the edge of the property. The tall shadow of a man stared at her from afar before slowly approaching.
A chill ran down her spine as she watched him. Who was this man? What did he want?
She took another sip of water before the man came out of the shadows.
As the man drew closer, April could see his rugged features and broad shoulders. His hair was unkempt and his clothes were worn, as if he had been working outside for quite a while.
His brown overalls were covered with dirt and sand, and his boots were scuffed. The man smells of pine and sweat. The sour tang of old sweat. His boots crunched the loose twigs as he stepped closer.
"Jackson," the man said softly, and tipped his hat out to her. "Do I have the pleasure of speaking to April?"
April was hesitant, unsure of who this stranger was and what he wanted. He seemed so serious, focused on only her, as if nothing existed around them.
"Yes, I'm April."
Jackson stepped closer to her, his eyes scanning her face with keen interest. He seemed to be sizing her up as if he was analyzing her. It made April feel uncomfortable, like a lab rat under a microscope.
"Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot of good things," Jackson said.
April couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as Jackson continued to stare at her. She could feel his eyes piercing through her as if he was trying to read her mind. "You've heard good things about me?" she asked, confused.
